Trade Crypto Futures
Trade Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrency futures with transparent commissions and competitive intraday margins.
What are Crypto Futures?
Cryptocurrency futures are standardized contracts that let you trade the price of digital assets like Bitcoin and Ether without directly owning or holding the underlying cryptocurrency.
These contracts trade nearly 24 hours a day — giving traders access to crypto price movements within a familiar, exchange-regulated futures environment.
Most retail traders use crypto futures to take directional positions on digital asset prices without the custody risks associated with holding spot cryptocurrency.
Why Trade Crypto Futures?
Go long or short based on your view
You can take a long or short position on Bitcoin and Ether price movements without owning or custodying the underlying digital asset.
Trade crypto on a regulated U.S. exchange
CME crypto futures are listed on a regulated exchange, providing a transparent and structured alternative to spot crypto trading platforms.
No wallets, no custody risk
Trading crypto futures eliminates the need to manage wallets or accounts associated with holding spot cryptocurrency.
Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you as well as for you.
Trade Popular Energy Futures
BTC
Bitcoin Futures
Tracks the price of Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, with a contract size of 5 Bitcoin.
MBT
Micro Bitcoin Futures
1/50th the size of the BTC contract, offering Bitcoin price exposure with a contract size of 0.10 Bitcoin.
ETH
Ether Futures
Tracks the price of Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, with a contract size of 50 Ether.
MET
Micro Ether Futures
A smaller-sized Ether contract with a size of 0.10 Ether, offering accessible exposure to Ether price movements.
View all available contracts
| Code | Product Name | Contract Size | Min. Tick Size | Trading Hours (EST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| /BTC | Bitcoin Futures | 5 Bitcoin | $5.00 per Bitcoin = $25.00 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /MBT | Micro Bitcoin Futures | 0.10 Bitcoin | $5.00 per Bitcoin = $0.50 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /BTE | Bitcoin Euro Futures | 5 Bitcoin | €5.00 per Bitcoin = €25.00 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /EBM | Micro Bitcoin Euro Futures | 0.10 Bitcoin | €5.00 per Bitcoin = €0.50 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /ETH | Ether Futures | 50 Ether | $0.50 per Ether = $25.00 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /MET | Micro Ether Futures | 0.10 Ether | $0.50 per Ether = $0.05 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /ETE | Ether Euro Futures | 50 Ether | €0.50 per Ether = €25.00 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /EEM | Micro Ether Euro Futures | 0.10 Ether | €0.50 per Ether = €0.05 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
| /EBR | Ether/Bitcoin Ratio Futures | $1,000,000 × ETH/BTC Ratio | $0.00001 = $5.00 | Sun 6 PM – Fri 5 PM |
Start Trading Crypto Futures
Trade Micro Crypto Futures with Lower Costs
Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures offer the same CME-regulated crypto exposure as the standard contracts, with significantly smaller position sizes and reduced margin requirements.
- Same underlying markets as the standard contracts, Bitcoin and Ether
- Contract sizes of 0.10 Bitcoin and 0.10 Ether respectively
- A practical way to gain regulated crypto futures exposure with less capital at risk
Start Trading Futures with a Low-Cost Broker
Open a MetroTrade account and access futures markets with low commissions, competitive margins, and a platform built for active traders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are crypto futures?
Cryptocurrency futures are standardized contracts that allow traders to take positions on the price of digital assets like Bitcoin and Ether without owning the underlying cryptocurrency. They are listed on the CME and trade within a regulated futures market structure.
How are crypto futures different from buying Bitcoin or Ether directly?
With spot crypto, you own the actual digital asset and are responsible for custody and storage. With crypto futures, you’re trading a contract tied to the price of the asset on a regulated exchange. There are no wallets, private keys, or crypto exchange accounts required.
What drives the price of crypto futures?
Crypto futures prices are influenced by the same factors that drive spot cryptocurrency markets, including market sentiment, regulatory developments, macroeconomic conditions, institutional adoption trends, and supply dynamics such as Bitcoin halving events.
When do crypto futures trade?
CME crypto futures trade Sunday through Friday, from 6:00 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET the following day, with a one-hour daily break. Unlike spot crypto markets, CME futures do not trade on weekends.
What is the difference between BTC and MBT futures?
Both contracts track the price of Bitcoin. The standard BTC contract represents 5 Bitcoin, while the Micro Bitcoin (MBT) represents 0.10 Bitcoin. The MBT offers a smaller entry point with proportionally lower margin requirements and tick values.
Are crypto futures cash-settled?
Yes. CME Bitcoin and Ether futures are cash-settled, meaning no actual cryptocurrency changes hands at expiration. The contract is settled in U.S. dollars based on the CME CF reference rate at expiration.
How much margin is required to trade crypto futures?
Intraday margin requirements for crypto contracts vary and are updated periodically. Crypto futures generally carry higher margin requirements than equity index or metal contracts due to their volatility. View current requirements on our margins page.
Virtual Currencies Contracts Risk
METROTRADE LLC IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA’S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS.
HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OVER UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE NFA’S CRYPTOCURRENCY REGULATIONS:
NFA Investor Advisory – Futures on Virtual Currencies Including Bitcoin
CFTC Customer Advisory: Understand the Risks of Virtual Currency Trading